16/12/2025
Dog training is about so much more than simply teaching behaviours. To be successful, we have to look at the bigger picture and consider why our dogs act the way they do.
Otto is a fantastic dog, and the goal of our session was to build on his recall
But here’s the truth: we didn’t actually need to teach Otto a recall.
He had already learned it in classes. The cue was clearly paired with the behaviour, he understood what was being asked, and it had been regularly reinforced. So why did it sometimes fail?
There were a few key factors to consider.
🐾Lack of generalisation
This occurs when a dog can only perform a behaviour in a specific context. However, this wasn’t necessarily the case for Otto.
🐾Lack of impulse control
This is very common in young working breeds. They tend to be highly reactive to changes in their environment and often operate on an “act first, think later” basis.
🐾Competing reinforcers
Has the dog ever ignored a recall and been rewarded for it? Running off to steal another dog’s ball, chase a squirrel, or play with another dog can be incredibly reinforcing. These self-rewarding behaviours can quickly undo a lot of hard work.
🐾Human input
Do we behave differently when calling our dog away from a distraction? Maybe we sound more anxious, tense, or mentally begging them not to embarrass us. Dogs are incredibly sensitive to changes in our body language and stress levels. That rise in cortisol can sometimes make them more reluctant to return, or even heighten their awareness of the distraction. Without meaning to, we can turn the situation into a much bigger event than it needs to be.
🐾Genetic traits
Different breeds have different drives, and those drives can create different training challenges. Understanding what motivates your dog is essential if you want to work with them rather than against them.
🐾The function of the behaviour
This ties all of the above together. Every behaviour serves a purpose for the dog.
So the real question becomes: what was Otto getting out of not recalling?
💡 Let’s break it down - because once we understand the function, the solution can become clearer.
For Otto, the main factors were lack of impulse control, his genetics, and human input. Up until now, his owner had been using a long line to prevent the rehearsal of unwanted behaviours which was perfect, as it reduced opportunities for self-reinforcement. However, at the same time, she was trying very hard to distract him whenever other dogs appeared, unintentionally turning the situation into a bigger “event” than it needed to be.
Genetically, Otto likes to patrol and scan the fields where he walks. He can also feel a little unsure around other dogs, so being able to observe them from a distance helps him feel safe and informed. In reality, he mostly wanted to watch the dogs rather than interact with them.
When he was prevented from assessing his surroundings, that’s when he felt the need to quickly run over and check the dogs out himself - unfortunately for him, the long line put a stop to that.
We worked on impulse control first, starting with toys. We set up recall practice with distractions, but most importantly, we gave Otto the freedom to make choices. If he wanted to observe his environment and watch the distractions, he was allowed to as long as he remained calm.
And guess what?
Once he was given the opportunity to watch (or “patrol,” as he prefers to think of it), he no longer felt the need to approach other dogs. At one point, he even lay down calmly watching while a Labrador played with a ball nearby.
Of course, his human will continue to proof his recall in a variety of scenarios, and we’ll keep working on impulse control for those surprise squirrels 🐿️
After all, the training never ends! 😉
